Morocco receives 'advanced' missile defence systems from Israel

Morocco has obtained a set of advanced missile defence systems from Israel, a recent report by the Israeli defence ministry, picked up by Moroccan media, revealed.

The purchase formed the focus of a bilateral agreement formalised when Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited the North African country in November.

Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain – which normalised ties with Israel in a 2020 deal dubbed the Abraham Accords – have signed defence pacts with Israel worth over $800 million.

 The Israeli defence ministry said military exports to the Arab region will exceed $1 billion this year.

In February, reports revealed that Morocco agreed to purchase Israel Aerospace Industries’ BARAK MX Integrated Air & Missile Defence System in a deal worth over half a billion dollars.

Morocco and Israel had low-level relations before agreeing to establish ties in 2020.

The rapprochement between the two countries has fuelled tensions with Morocco’s neighbour, Algeria, which cut ties with Rabat last summer.